Description
Cataclysmic variables (CVs) can exhibit rapid increases in optical flux. These bursts are broadly classified into categories based on properties such as total energy, peak luminosity and duration. A subset of CVs, referred to as Intermediate Polars (IPs) possess strong magnetic fields that can disrupt the inner disk regions, and which are thought to rarely exhibit bursts. Previous studies developed diagnostic diagrams to differentiate between burst types (dwarf nova, stellar flares, magnetic gating and/or micronovae), but due to the limited population conclusions remain tentative. We combine TESS and ASAS-SN data to systematically search for and attempt to classify bursts in the known population of IPs, and find that a significantly higher proportion than expected (~40%) of known IPs exhibit optical bursts. We further identify 12 new micronova candidates, nearly doubling the known sample and providing valuable systems to investigate the origin of this phenomenon. We conclude by simulating micronova detection rates in ongoing and upcoming synoptic sky surveys, demonstrating the efficiency of detecting micronova and consolidating our detection rates from archival searches.
